Bill

Will be doing LA-SF drive along the coast and am curious to know if there is one place that is especially good for viewing Sea Otters in the wild? If there's a cove or something in a particular town, I would go out of my way to see these wonderful creatures frolicking in their natural setting.

Susan

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium they are working on sea otter breeding to help reinstate the population. In the coastal waters right near the Aquarium we've always seen them frolicking and playing. I remember eating in one if the waterside restaurants on Cannery Row when a few sea otters entertained our family through the whole meal.

anne

We did the same drive last year and loved it. I remember seeing two otters playing in the water at Monterey, we just stopped near the harbor and took a walk out along a peir/road that leads out to a large seal population (this is near quite a few docked boats). Sorry I can't be more specific, but we were really just wandering about. Other highlights: Santa Barbara, looks just like I imagined California to be, palm trees and beautiful beach, great college town feel to it; Hearst Castle, worth the detour IMO, especially when decorated for Christmas, Carmel, again very quaint and pretty with Christmas decorations. Monterey, as mentioned; Santa Cruz, enjoyed watching the seals under the pier with a great fish & chips lunch. I know, I have mentioned just about everywhere, and this did not include all of the stops to just sit and watch the ocean/views. One of the great road trips we have taken in America - enjoy!

lisa

We saw sea otters in Morro Bay and Monterey Bay. This was in July 2000.

We also saw bull elephant seals just north of San Simeon, and other seals on Moonstone Beach in Cambria and at Point Lobos State Park.

Grasshopper

Point Lobos is one of my favorite spots on earth! Park outside the park along Highway 1 and take the perimeter hike. You will go through some of the most diverse scenery you can imagine; an old whaling cove, a hilltop from which you can have a 360 degree view of the mountains, the bay and the ocean, tide pools, quite hidden beaches, and a deciduous forrest. Watch out for poison oak, it's everywhere! Go to http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/ for a peek at what is in store for you.

Bill

I forgot to add whales to my list. Without taking a boat, off what point may one view whales the best from the shore?

Nikki

I also took this drive July 2000, and saw some sea otters diving for food near the harbor. Although when I was in Monterey in Nov a few years back, we stayed at the Monterey Bay Inn (and got a really cheap offseason last minute rate, something like 50% off), in a waterfront room. I just remember walking out on the balcony in the morning and seeing an otter swim right by on his back, trying to break open the shell he had using the little rock they will put on their stomach. It was really neat to see them so close.

I remember seeing alot more in the fall then when I was there in the summer, but not sure if that was just luck or what.

Have fun!
Nikki

Grasshopper

Bill, you can see Whales from the same perimeter hike if it's the right time of year.

bill

Will be visiting there late December.

Susan

Bill, since I see you are interested in the marine life of the Pacific coast I really recommend you stop at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on your way up the coast. There are also whale watching cruises you can take out onto the bay from Monterey. The aquarium is amazing!

Grasshopper

December is usually good for whales. Bring binoculars.

E.

I second the suggestion of Point Lobos--it's spectacular, the hiking is very easy (plus you can drive from trailhead to trailhead, if you must), and last January I saw tons of otters and whales, right where the park brochure said they'd be. I would recommend binos for seeing the whales. And yes, you should definitely check out the Moneterey Bay Aquarium, it's a world-class institution, and the otter-feeding show is cute as hell. Otters are also fairly easy to spot anywhere along the shore in Monterey, Asilomar or Pacific Grove.

michelle

I will also recommend Monterey Bay. One of the highlights of our trip in 99 was kayaking among the wildlife in that harbor. You can paddle all the way down to the Aquarium. We saw TONS of sea otters and sea lions within a few feet of our boat. It was amazing. I don't remember the name of the place we rented the kayaks from - but it was right in Monterey, and not a bad deal financially. A fantastic experience.

When we contined down the coast we also saw hundreds of elephant seals on the beaches just North of San Simeon. You could walk all among them. Hearst Castle is definitely worth a stop. We have been on 2 different tours there and will return for more.

I would also rate Santa Barbara as a "must see". My husband and I were married there, it is absolutely beautiful. Enjoy your trip!

Ed

The largest concentration of sea otters I have ever seen was from a tour boat out of Morro Bay,CA. They were just north of the "Rock" playing and feeding among the kelp plants that were floating on the surface. We estimated there were between 30 to 40 otters out there. Also saw a sea lion sleeping on a bell buoy nearby.

kam

I second the suggestion to kayak in Monterey Bay with the otters. Just know that some of them bite and they are wild animals, although they're getting a bit spoiled by the tourists. See elephant seals down near Cambria or at Anos Nuevos State Park north of Santa Cruz. You can only go at certain times and with a ranger as it's a big breeding ground. Whales are generally around mid December to April--earlier in the south. I would bring binoculars and find a hotel with an unobstruted sea view--either in Cambria at Moonstone Beach or along Big Sur. There is a collection of sea otters at the Aquarium who are kept in captivity for various reasons. Sea Otters are about the cutest things imaginable--how we ever let them go almost extinct is unbelievable. However, when you want a taste of abalone, remember it's the otters who drive up the price!! Pt. Lobos is great--if you're going on a spectacularly sunny day or weekend, get there early because there is a limit on how many people are allowed in at any given time. Have a great time.

Native

Kam,

The Sea Otters are driving up the price of Abalone?????????? You are very knowledgeable, but you obviously have never been Abaloneing (sp).

We used to go out of Cambria at 4 a.m on low tide, and get enough of LEGAL size for our Camp (60-70 campers and staff. Probably 30 - 40 abalone). That was a very long time ago (late 40s, early 50s). I still have a couple of "abalone irons".

It became too muuch of a good thing for too many people. Now you have to dive for them.

kam

Native, Are you telling me that the sea otters don't eat abalone? I've been told they do by many folks down in Monterey. True, I've never been abaloneing (sp) and don't really like them, but the people on the Central coast always blame the prices on the otters. Maybe the otters are better divers than we human? Whatever, I went back to check about Ano Nuevo--you need to make reservations well ahead and breeding season starts in mid December. Call 1-800-444-7275. Otherwise, it's not safe to go. The bulls can get really touchy. The bulls are about 2 tons, but once they get going they are a scarey sight. We've been in the winter, and it was cold and wet--you need to wear boots or old shoes and plan to walk a couple miles. The tour takes a couple hours. After the pups(?) are born, you can stroll around the beach with the sleeping moms and kids and only occasionally see a bull. Sleeping peacefully in the sun they look like huge brown slugs and you can get amazingly close to the moms and kids. They are one of the most incredible creatures--so homely they're almost cute. Ano Nuevo is north of Santa Cruz and south of Half Moon Bay. If you can get a reservation, don't miss it. Also highly recommend the sardine exhibit at the Aquarium--remember this was John Steinbeck's setting for Cannery Row?

Native

Kam,

O.K., Otters eat Abalone, among just about everything else. They are real garbage guts. That said, I'm not sure how many Abalone they can get off the rocks, much less eat. Abalone have to be pried off with a steel tool!! It ain't easy. They have such suction. People have been killed tying to get Abalone from the rocks. They would get their tool and start prying, then put their hand in. The Abalone would clamp back down and then the high tide would come back in...History!

The otters might be getting the small Abalone, but I really don't think it is that big of a problem.

The people talking about it probably have never been Abaloneing (sp again).

If you can find Abalone, it is around $30.00/lb. Have you ever had it? It is a real delicasee. Now you have to scuba deep to find them.

Native

Susan

What Kam has said about the otters affecting the abalone population sounded vaguely familiar to me so I did a little internet research and found these tidbits.

The sea otter population is currently only 15% of what it was in the past.
There are an estimated 2300 sea otters still swimming off the California coast. When the sea otter population was still in full force it did have an impact on the abalone population, but now that is no longer the case. Heavy fishing of abalone is currently to blame for their declining population. In fact, current populations of red abalone are threatened with extinction.

The sea otter is one of the few other mammals besides humans that uses tools! Sea otters use rocks, and in the Monterey area some even use pieces of glass, to pry the abalones from where they are anchored and to break open their shells. Sea otters do eat many other shellfish as well.

Sea otters can dive to depths of 330 feet and can remain under water for up to 5 minutes.

ep

Definitely the Monterey Bay Aquarium.